Chapter 18

As the youngest regiment commander on the island, He Hongyuan was not only handsome but also had a bright future ahead of him, coupled with a solid and respectable family background. Naturally, many people had their eyes on him, hoping to match him with their daughters.

Some bold women even took the initiative to pursue him. For instance, Meng Jing had previously asked her uncle, Commander Yang, to set up a meeting with He Hongyuan, inviting him to dinner at their home to develop a connection.

However, He Hongyuan, oblivious to romance, brought Zhang Huafeng along to the dinner and outright refused to walk Meng Jing home afterward.

Upset, Meng Jing stormed off, but she couldn’t get over He Hongyuan.

Meng Jing wasn’t the only one vying for his affection. The daughter of Chief Jiang, Jiang Xiurong, had also set her sights on him. After being coldly rejected multiple times, she decided to take a more strategic approach. Through her comrade Yan Min in the performing arts troupe, she persuaded Zhang Huafeng to invite He Hongyuan to an upcoming social event, planning to make her move there.

But today, when both women heard that He Hongyuan’s fiancée had arrived—traveling from far away—they couldn’t sit still and decided to investigate!

The woman who had just stepped out of the Zhou family home had a slender figure. Despite wearing plain, coarse clothes, her charm and elegance were unmistakable. Her delicate and expressive features, especially her striking eyes, stood out.

If this woman really was He Hongyuan’s fiancée, both Meng Jing and Jiang Xiurong felt their hearts sink.

“Are you really Lin Xiang, He Hongyuan’s fiancée?” Jiang Xiurong, unable to contain herself after Meng Jing’s question was left unanswered, asked bluntly.

Lin Xiang had not expected He Hongyuan’s romantic entanglements to become her problem. The way these women confronted her in the family housing courtyard was bound to cause trouble if it escalated.

“No,” Lin Xiang replied calmly and firmly.

Both Meng Jing and Jiang Xiurong secretly breathed a sigh of relief at her answer.

Just then, a tall figure approaching quickly in the distance suddenly stopped. He Hongyuan, standing under the evening twilight, watched Lin Xiang lie with a composed expression.

“Who’s He Hongyuan? I don’t know him,” Lin Xiang said with a steady smile to the two women, her demeanor unshaken.

Her priority was to avoid trouble, especially as she had just arrived in this unfamiliar place. Plus, after a busy day, all she wanted was to return to the guesthouse and rest.

“See? I told you she’s not Lin Xiang,” Shen Chunli, proud of being the only one who had seen Lin Xiang, immediately backed up her claim.

Hidden in the dim evening light, He Hongyuan couldn’t help but replay Lin Xiang’s resolute denial: “Who’s He Hongyuan? I don’t know him.”

Her behavior was as puzzling as her earlier confidence at the state-run restaurant that morning. This woman was truly unpredictable.

---

After managing to dismiss the two nosy women who seemed ready to fight, Lin Xiang carried a bag of lychees as she headed to the guesthouse. A beautiful evening like this was meant to be enjoyed with delicious fruit.

Having spent most of her time in the 1970s eating nothing but greens, cabbage, and sweet potatoes, she nearly cried with joy at the luxury of lychees.

As she walked quickly, she suddenly noticed a tall figure in the distance.

“Captain He,” she greeted, recalling the earlier encounter. Thinking of He Hongyuan’s dislike for unnecessary entanglements, she decided to boast a little. “I’ve been careful not to tarnish your reputation today. When people asked about our relationship, I just said I was here to visit family.”

The corner of He Hongyuan’s lips twitched, curling into an almost imperceptible smile. “Oh? Didn’t you say you didn’t know me?”

Lin Xiang froze. “…!”

How did he know?!

What was he, a scout or a surveillance camera?

“Captain He, you’re certainly observant,” Lin Xiang muttered, exasperated.

As she glanced at him, her almond-shaped eyes widened slightly in disbelief, and He Hongyuan’s phoenix-shaped eyes brightened, a slight curve forming at their edges.

“I noticed that both of those women were young, beautiful, and elegant. They clearly like you,” Lin Xiang remarked, clutching her bag of lychees to her chest. She couldn’t help but doubt herself.

Both women were strikingly attractive, not the shy types to hold back their feelings, and their clothes were made from high-quality fabric. One of them was even Shen Chunli’s relative, indicating a well-off family background.

If those two extraordinary women, with their proximity and boldness, couldn’t win over He Hongyuan, how could she?

The night breeze lifted Lin Xiang’s bangs, and she softly asked, “Do you really not like either of them?”

If that was the case, she didn’t stand a chance either.

Standing tall under a coconut tree bathed in moonlight, He Hongyuan, exuding an air of detachment, replied solemnly, “I’m not interested in dating or marriage.”

For once, Lin Xiang believed him. If those two—and perhaps more—had failed to sway him, what hope did she have?

“Old He! You’re here?” a voice called out. Zhang Huafeng approached quickly, his shout breaking the silence. Spotting He Hongyuan and Lin Xiang in the dim light, he exclaimed, “I thought you weren’t going to intervene, but it looks like you were worried about your fiancée after all. Came here to see if Lin Xiang was okay, huh?”

He Hongyuan shot him a sharp look. “Still haven’t learned to keep your mouth shut?”

Zhang Huafeng, having caused enough trouble for the day, dared not provoke him further. Turning to Lin Xiang, he asked, “Comrade Lin Xiang, did Meng Jing and Jiang Xiurong give you a hard time? It’s my fault for blabbing about you being Old He’s fiancée. Those two come from privileged families with fiery tempers. I was worried they’d cause trouble, but luckily…”

He glanced at He Hongyuan, leaving the rest unsaid.

Luckily, He Hongyuan had come to her rescue.

Lin Xiang hesitated. Did He Hongyuan really come here specifically to help her?

As she raised her eyes to look at the man before her, she heard He Hongyuan coldly say, “I came to see Commander Zhou about something.”

Fine, he was making a point of distancing himself.

Lin Xiang didn’t push further.

“No matter if it’s true or not, I’ll just take it as true.” Lin Xiang’s eyes were filled with amusement, her smile illuminated by the moonlight, a touch of joy spilling over. “Have some lychees.”

Taking from the bag, Lin Xiang held out three lychees midair, signaling He Hongyuan, who remained unmoved, to lift his hand.

He Hongyuan found himself under her clear, piercing gaze, and it seemed like the night’s moonlight reflected in her eyes. Reluctantly, he shifted his gaze slightly, finally extending his hand. Three lychees fell into his palm, slipping past her slender, pale pink fingertips.

Lin Xiang’s fingers were long and delicate, her nails a soft crescent moon white. As she withdrew her hand quickly, they brushed past the rough calluses on the man’s palm, leaving a fleeting sensation of itchiness.

That itch vanished in an instant, like a passing breeze. He Hongyuan’s eyes flickered slightly as he closed his hand into a fist, his fingers pressing into his palm.

“Comrade Zhang, have some too.”

But Lin Xiang’s soft, lilting voice interrupted his thoughts as she passed three lychees to Zhang Huafeng as well. “Thanks for taking the time to check on me.”

“It’s nothing, I should’ve been more careful about what I said!” Zhang Huafeng thought Lin Xiang was simply too kind—so polite and considerate. “Sister-in-law is a good sister-in-law; it’s just this brother…”

As Lin Xiang walked away, Zhang Huafeng turned to look at He Hongyuan. Thinking that the day’s incident was behind them, he began peeling a lychee to enjoy its sweetness.

To his surprise, the previously calm He Hongyuan suddenly wore a dark expression. Without warning, he reached over and snatched the three lychees from Zhang’s hands.

“After what you pulled today, you still think you deserve these?” He Hongyuan scolded sternly.

“Hey!” Zhang Huafeng was livid, chasing after him. “Sister-in-law didn’t even blame me, so what gives you the right to take my fruit? He Hongyuan, with that attitude of yours, how are you ever going to find a wife? You’re lucky you’ve got that face of yours!”

…

Exhausted from the day, Lin Xiang returned to the guesthouse and peeled several lychees. The long-lost, juicy sweetness of the translucent fruit was a delight, even more fragrant and delicious than the ones sold in modern stores.

She saved the remaining half for the next day and went downstairs to the communal bathhouse. One thing about the military district—bathing facilities were very convenient.

After tidying up and returning to her room, Lin Xiang lay in bed, contemplating her future.

He Hongyuan’s resistance to the arranged engagement was evident. Considering how he’d been unfazed by so many outstanding admirers, Lin Xiang had to acknowledge the challenge ahead.

If their relationship ultimately came to nothing, she needed a backup plan to secure her stay here.

She had no desire to return to Xifeng City, but Jinbian City fit her perfectly.

Perhaps she could find a job here or even consider another match?

When the time comes, a solution will present itself.

Still, it would be ideal to win over this man. Finding someone who fit her aesthetic preferences so perfectly was a rare feat.

In her past life, she hadn’t enjoyed much; surely, indulging herself a little in this life wasn’t too much to ask?

But as Lin Xiang drifted off to sleep, she had a long, vivid dream.

In it, she finally understood the main storyline of the novel she’d transmigrated into—and the original Lin Xiang’s small, insignificant role.

And He Hongyuan? In the book, he turned out to be—!!!